142 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
142 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
# Managing NixOS Machines with Clan
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Integrating a new machine into your cLan environment is a very easy yet flexible process, allowing for the centralized management of multiple NixOS configurations.
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The Guide below showcases how to introduce a new machine into an existing cLan setup.
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## Installing a New Machine
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Clan CLI, in conjunction with [nixos-anywhere](https://github.com/nix-community/nixos-anywhere), provides a seamless method for installing NixOS on various machines.
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This process involves preparing a suitable hardware and disk partitioning configuration and ensuring the target machine is accessible via SSH.
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### Prerequisites
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- [x] A running Linux system with SSH on the target machine is required. This is typically pre-configured for many server providers.
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- [x] For installations on physical hardware, create a NixOS installer image and transfer it to a bootable USB drive as described below.
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## Creating a Bootable USB Drive on Linux
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To create a bootable USB flash drive with the NixOS installer:
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### Build the Installer Image
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```bash
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nix build git+https://git.clan.lol/clan/clan-core.git#install-iso
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```
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### Prepare the USB Flash Drive
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- Insert your USB flash drive into your computer.
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- Identify your flash drive with `lsblk`. Look for the device with a matching size.
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- Ensure all partitions on the drive are unmounted. Replace `sdX` in the command below with your device identifier (like `sdb`, etc.):
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```bash
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sudo umount /dev/sdX*
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```
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### Write the Image to the USB Drive
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Use the `dd` utility to write the NixOS installer image to your USB drive:
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```bash
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sudo dd bs=4M conv=fsync oflag=direct status=progress if=./result/stick.raw of=/dev/sdX
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```
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In case your USB device is `sdb` use `of=/dev/sdb`
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### Boot and Connect
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After writing the installer to the USB drive, use it to boot the target machine.
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> i.e. Plug it into the target machine and select the USB drive as a temporary boot device.
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For most hardware you can find the Key-combination below:
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- **Dell**: F12 (Boot Menu), F2/Del (BIOS Setup)
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- **HP**: F9 (Boot Menu), Esc (Startup Menu)
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- **Lenovo**: F12 (ThinkPad Boot Menu), F2/Fn+F2/Novo Button (IdeaPad Boot Menu/BIOS Setup)
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- **Acer**: F12 (Boot Menu), F2/Del (BIOS Setup)
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- **Asus**: F8/Esc (Boot Menu), F2/Del (BIOS Setup)
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- **Toshiba**: F12/F2 (Boot Menu), Esc then F12 (Alternate Method)
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- **Sony**: F11/Assist Button (Boot Menu/Recovery Options)
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- **Samsung**: F2/F12/Esc (Boot Menu), F2 (BIOS Setup)
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- **MSI**: F11 (Boot Menu), Del (BIOS Setup)
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- **Apple**: Option (Alt) Key (Boot Menu for Mac)
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- If your hardware was not listed read the manufacturers instructions how to enter the boot Menu/BIOS Setup.
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**During Boot**
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Select `NixOS` to boot into the clan installer
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**After Booting**
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The installer will display an IP address and a root password, which you can use to connect via SSH.
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Alternatively you can also use the displayed QR code.
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### Finishing the installation
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With the target machine running Linux and accessible via SSH, execute the following command to install NixOS on the target machine, replacing `<target_host>` with the machine's hostname or IP address:
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```bash
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clan machines install my-machine <target_host>
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```
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## Update Your Machines
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Clan CLI enables you to remotely update your machines over SSH. This requires setting up a target address for each target machine.
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### Setting the Target Host
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Replace `host_or_ip` with the actual hostname or IP address of your target machine:
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```bash
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clan config --machine my-machine clan.networking.targetHost root@host_or_ip
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```
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> Note: The use of `root@` in the target address implies SSH access as the `root` user.
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> Ensure that the root login is secured and only used when necessary.
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### Updating Machine Configurations
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Execute the following command to update the specified machine:
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```bash
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clan machines update my-machine
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```
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You can also update all configured machines simultaneously by omitting the machine name:
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```bash
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clan machines update
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```
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### Setting a Build Host
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If the machine does not have enough resources to run the NixOS evaluation or build itself,
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it is also possible to specify a build host instead.
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During an update, the cli will ssh into the build host and run `nixos-rebuild` from there.
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```bash
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clan config --machine my-machine clan.networking.buildHost root@host_or_ip
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```
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### Excluding a machine from `clan machine update`
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To exclude machines from beeing updated when running `clan machines update` without any machines specified,
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one can set the `clan.deployment.requireExplicitUpdate` option to true:
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```bash
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clan config --machine my-machine clan.deployment.requireExplicitUpdate true
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```
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This is useful for machines that are not always online or are not part of the regular update cycle.
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---
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# TODO:
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* clan facts generate
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* clan machine check / build (CI is missing)
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* TODO: How to join others people zerotier
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* `services.zerotier.joinNetworks = [ "network-id" ]`
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* Controller needs to approve over webinterface or cli |